Convicted Albuquerque drug traffickers on probation arrested after 8-month-old son is found dead inside home filled with drugs

“WE KEPT THE RESIDENCE CLEAN AND FOLLOWED EVERY PLAN”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY DRUGS WERE DISCOVERED SCATTERED THROUGHOUT AN ALBUQUERQUE HOME WHERE AN EIGHT-MONTH-OLD BOY WAS FOUND DEAD… AND BOTH PARENTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED SUPERVISION VIOLATIONS WHILE THE DEATH INVESTIGATION REMAINS UNDERWAY.

On August 25, 2026, emergency personnel were dispatched to a residence in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The call sent first responders to a home located in the 600 block of Aztec Road NW.

Officers arrived at the address at around 8:30 a.m.

Responders arrived after the death of an infant at the property was reported.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel confirmed that the baby was dead.

Authorities identified the deceased child as an eight-month-old boy.

The name of the infant has not been publicly released by authorities.

Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit responded to the scene to lead the inquiry.

Investigators began examining all of the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.

Police identified the parents of the child as 35-year-old Mark Armijo and 41-year-old Shawna Sitz.

At the time of the police response, both Armijo and Sitz were under active state supervision.

Both parents were on active probation or parole related to dangerous drug trafficking.

While investigating the baby’s death inside the home, detectives allegedly discovered drugs throughout the residence.

That alleged discovery was formally reported as a violation of Armijo and Sitz’s probation or parole conditions.

On August 25, 2026, both parents were arrested by law enforcement officers.

Armijo and Sitz were booked and taken into custody for alleged supervision violations.

Neither Armijo nor Sitz has been charged with causing the baby’s death.

Authorities have not publicly released an official cause of death for the child.

Authorities have also not publicly released a manner of death.

Police confirmed that the investigation into the boy’s death remains ongoing.

And the case later drew additional scrutiny after state child welfare and health officials made disclosures regarding the family.

Officials revealed that concerns about the child had been documented shortly after he was born.

On January 29, 2026, the state received a report stating that the infant may have been born substance exposed.

Officials said Sitz tested positive at that time for two substances.

Sitz held valid medical prescriptions for both of the detected substances.

Those specific substances did not qualify for a 72-hour hold under the state’s Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act directive.

Child welfare officials said they lacked the legal authority to take protective custody of the newborn.

The initial January report was subsequently screened out.

Over the following months, Sitz agreed to participate voluntarily in a Plan of Safe Care.

State navigators and outside contractors were assigned to work with the mother and child.

The assigned workers reportedly conducted routine visits with Sitz and the infant.

During those routine visits, officials stated that the home was observed to be clean.

Monitoring workers reported that adequate food was available inside the Aztec Road NW residence.

Officials noted that safe sleep practices were actively being followed for the baby.

Medical records reviewed during that period showed the baby was current on all vaccinations.

The infant was also documented as being current on scheduled well-child medical visits.

Officials stated that no safety concerns were reported during any of the routine home visits.

But state officials changed their assessment following the infant’s death.

After the child died, state officials accused Sitz of taking extensive measures to conceal illegal and harmful drugs from visiting caseworkers.

Officials accused her of hiding contraband from representatives who had regularly entered the Aztec Road NW home.

State officials also accused Sitz of lying about her substance use.

They further accused the mother of failing to provide necessary care for her infant son.

In a joint statement, state officials stated that they believed Sitz ultimately bore responsibility for the infant’s death.

That joint statement was issued while the broader police inquiry remained active.

As of August 27, 2026, authorities had not announced evidence establishing that drugs caused the infant’s death.

Sitz had not been criminally charged in connection with the fatality.

Armijo also had not been charged with causing the child’s death.

The death investigation remains active.

The police inquiry remains ongoing.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.